Tag Archives: Quees

A few things happened for the Mets on opening day 2010: the team won; McFadden’s Bar at Citi Field opened its doors for the first time; and Darren Meenan officially started The 7 Line.

Three seasons later, the clothing line and the popular pub came together to celebrate The 7 Line 2013 calendar, adorned with some of the prettiest Met fans in the tri-state area.

The 7 Line, staffed by Meenan and longtime friend Lizy Saroyan, has taken off over the last two-and-a-half years, celebrating the culture of the team and the loyalty that makes Mets fans who they are.

Like the tradition of getting fan input on a new product, Meenan said he let fans vote on who would make the calendar, tracing IP addresses to ensure that selection was fair.

“The idea was, I don’t exclude anyone from trying out,” Meenan said regarding who made the 12 spots. “The fans actually voted on who would make the top 12. The first year was like a trial run, we weren’t sure what to expect. But…we knew it would definitely be something we’d want to keep doing.”

Last year, around 30 women tried out, he said, and the launch party was held at the significantly smaller McFadden’s in New York City. This year, the much bigger venue reflected the growing following of the line.

More than 50 striking young women tried out to fill in the 12 roster spots on the calendar. Courtney Fay, who will adorn the September page, was thrilled to be a part of something that was still so new, all the while so popular.

“It’s a really awesome experience,” she said. “It’s not something that everybody can say that they’ve done. There’s so many Mets fans, and there’s a lot of girls trying out for it. It’s an honor to be in it, to be honest. Especially to be in the second one: it’s so new, it’s still up and running…it’s really awesome.”

But while there was plenty to celebrate as The 7 Line christens another year of fandom, the brand has also given back in recent weeks. In the wake of Superstorm Sandy, the small staff of two began drafting a T-shirt that not only sought to bring all New Yorkers together— regardless of their team allegiances — but lend a helping hand. The calendar launch party also took in supplies for victims that were later brought to shelters, and a donation bucket for Sandy victims was passed around.

Meenan started sketching the shirt while having lunch at the Bayside Diner the Saturday after the storm. He had a computer design later that afternoon and the shirts went on sale the following morning.

All revenue from the “uNitY” T-shirts will go directly to relief efforts in Queens for Sandy victims. So far, around $17,000 has been raised to go toward Sandy relief.

“We will be splitting the money up and donating it to different local charities,” Meenan said. “Being that The 7 Line is a New York brand we wanted to directly give back to our neighbors who were affected.”

Saroyan likewise said the pair wanted to do something that would help Queens, while bringing together the community.

“It’s tragic when things happen like that, and especially when it’s so close to home,” she said, “and we wanted to help and we know that with such a crowd and such a following, we were able to make something that somebody could hold on to, like a T-shirt, and also help out.”

2 p.m. Flushing Library: Jazz/R&B/Brazilian Music with Since When?; a fusion of jazz, rhythm & blues and Brazilian styles reflecting a range of influences such as Antonio Carlos Jobim, Sade, The Rippington’s and others; call 718-661-1200.

3 p.m. Central Library: Dominican Folk and Modern Merengue; Enjoy a unique presentation of Merengue Típico, traditional Dominican merengue and merenhouse, a blend of merengue with American hip-hop and rap! For more information, call 718-990-0700.

1:30 p.m. Kew Gardens Hills Library: Avigail Malachi; this New York based ensemble is dedicated to the art of traditional Jewish music, combined with other world music and/or jazz; call 718-261-6654.

2 p.m. Long Island City Library: Financial Empowerment Center; talk to a financial counselor and learn how to work with your credit, debt, household budget and money management in general. To register, call the Queens Financial Empowerment Center at 646-810-4050, ext. 112.

6 p.m. Jackson Heights Library: Rhythms of Bollywood; Indian musician/composer Rushi Vakil will conduct an interactive workshop with live demonstrations on the evolution of Bollywood music from the 1950s to the present through the lens of rhythm; hear some iconic songs from Bollywood over the generations and learn how its rhythm and sound have changed over time; call 718-899-2500.

6 p.m., Long Island City Library: Applying for Unemployment; find out more about unemployment and plan your next steps for finding employment; topics include: filling out online applications, looking for jobs, and exploring online learning. Preregistration is required; call 718-752-3700.

TUESDAY, OCT. 4

6:30 p.m. Central Library: Owning Your Own Business: The Nuts & Bolts of Getting Started; Do you have an idea for a business? Learn how to develop your idea into a business plan. Participants will learn: Creating a demand for your product/service; Setting goals & objectives; Budgeting & timelines; Identifying resources & networks; Getting ready to open your “doors.” Every Tuesday from 6:30-7:30 p.m. in the Job Information Center. To register, call 718-990-5102.

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 5

6 p.m., Flushing Library: Dr. Joseph Debe; Glycation, the crusting of proteins and other molecules by sugar, is possibly the single most important factor in aging; it plays a pivotal role in diabetes, heart disease, osteoporosis, cancer and all the degenerative diseases, as well as poor physical and mental functioning with age; Dr. Joseph Debé, Board Certified Nutritionist, has researched the foods, spices, cooking methods, and nutritional supplements that naturally fight glycation to promote vitality and longevity; call 718-661-1200.

Thursday, October 6 at 6:30 p.m. Queens Historical Society: Interview with the Author (Joe Lunievicz); join QHS for the latest installment in our Interview with the Author series featuring Joe Lunievicz; his new book Open Wounds follows the story of a young man growing up in Queens during the World War II era; call 718- 939-0647.

SAVE THE DATE

Through November 12 Voelker Orth Museum: The Allure of Red; an eclectic mix of photographs taken by Greta M. Jaklitsch over a number of years; all photos are limited editions taken with 35mm film, not enhanced or altered; call 718-359-6227 or visitwww.vomuseum.org.

Saturday, October 8 at 1 p.m. Greater Astoria Historical Society: Man of Peace; a special program on Father Mychal Judge, Chaplain, FDNY exploring his life and the effect he had on the lives of many New Yorkers; documentary film maker, Brendan Fay, will show rare footage and personal items of Father Judge; call 718-278-0700’

Saturday, October 15 at 2-5 p.m. Community Church of Douglaston: Heaven on Earth; celebrate the rebirth and renewal of the historic 1850s cottage at the Community Church of Douglaston; open house and tours; presented by the Douglaston and Little Neck Historical Society; visit www.dlnhs.org.

October 14-16 The Astoria/LIC International Film Festival: an exciting mix of submissions is sure to make the second annual Astoria/LIC International Film; visitwww.astorialic.com for a list of films, events and venues.